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Bruce helps Reds overcome his error, beat Cubs 9-3

By WTOP Staff

JOE KAY
AP Baseball Writer

CINCINNATI (AP) — An error that let in a run, a two-run homer that turned things around. Jay Bruce’s introduction to first base ended up being a big hit.

Bruce played first base for the first time since high school and committed an error that let in an unearned run Monday night, but later homered to help the Cincinnati Reds rally for a 9-3 victory over the Chicago Cubs in the opener of a five-game series.

“I ended up falling back on being a baseball player,” Bruce said. “In the end, I drove in more than I let in. It was definitely fun. I felt bad about missing that ball. That was a tough play, but it’s a play I expect to make and should make.”

Billy Hamilton drove in a career-high four runs with a single and a bases-loaded triple.

The Reds have won 11 of their last 16 games despite getting little production from injured first baseman Joey Votto, who had another test on his troublesome left thigh on Monday. The Reds were awaiting results before deciding whether to put him back on the disabled list.

Mike Leake (7-7) gave up a two-run homer to Anthony Rizzo and an unearned run off Bruce’s error during seven innings. Leake is 8-2 in his career against Chicago, including 4-0 in his last four starts with a 1.71 ERA.

After Bruce’s error let in a run that tied it 1-all in the fifth, he singled and scored on Devin Mesoraco’s double off Edwin Jackson (5-9). Bruce hit a two-run homer off left-hander James Russell in the seventh. Hamilton tripled home the three runs in the eighth.

Chris Coghlan had four hits for the Cubs, who stranded six runners in scoring position. They had a runner thrown out at the plate in the sixth when Skip Schumaker — filling Bruce’s spot in right field — nailed Welington Castillo as he tagged from third on a fly ball.

Votto, the NL’s MVP in 2010, has missed the last two games with a strained muscle above his left knee, an injury that sidelined him for 23 games starting in May. He’s batting only .250 with no homers since his return.

Bruce volunteered to move to first base to help the short-handed Reds, who have no experienced backup at the position. He was on the field four hours before the game taking grounders and getting tips on how to cover the base in various situations.

“It was an experience, but one I hope I don’t have to prolong,” said Bruce, who expects to play first base occasionally.

Bruce made a couple of nice plays on ground balls and plucked a low pickoff throw out of the dirt. His first error in the infield helped the Cubs tie it 1-all in the fifth.

“I thought he did a good job,” Leake said. “It’s not easy for an outfielder to come in and play the infield like that.”

With two outs, Coghlan singled and went to third on Justin Ruggiano’s single. Bruce reacted slowly to Rizzo’s grounder toward the line, and it tipped off his glove for an error.

“I thought he did a terrific job,” manager Bryan Price said. “There was that one tough play that I didn’t think was an error. I don’t know if it was an error or not, but that’s how they scored it. In the end, he just played the position and just did a terrific job.”

Bruce’s homer was his second in two days and his 49th off a lefty in the last five seasons, the most by any batter in the majors.

NOTES: The game was delayed by rain for 21 minutes in the middle of the third inning. … The teams play a day-night doubleheader on Tuesday, the first game making up for a rainout on April 28. The Cubs will go with LHP Travis Wood (7-6) and LHP Tsuyoshi Wada (0-0). Cincinnati will use Johnny Cueto (8-6) and LHP David Holmberg (0-0). … It’s the first time the Cubs and Reds have played a five-game series since 1999. … Former Nasty Boys relievers Rob Dibble, Norm Charlton and Randy Myers threw ceremonial pitches. Dibble had some history with the Cubs, plunking Doug Dascenzo in the back of the legs after his squeeze bunt during a game at Wrigley Field in 1991.

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Follow Joe Kay on Twitter: http://twitter.com/apjoekay

Copyright 2014 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Don’t Settle for Student Loans to Pay for Online Education

By WTOP Staff
Online college programs are becoming a more popular choice for prospective students, with one study finding that more than 6 million students enrolled in at least one online course in fall 2015. The popularity of these courses can be attributed in part to their flexibility with working adults' schedules, students' ability to progress more quickly through online programs and, oftentimes, cheaper tuition. [See 10 low-cost online bachelor's programs for out-of-state students.]Online degrees can be beneficial to many college students, but some studies have shown online learners complete their programs at lower rates than students at traditional brick-and-mortar campuses. Individuals with student loans but no degree comprise two-thirds of defaulted borrowers. Though these numbers are not encouraging, just like for traditional programs, there are ways to reduce how much you'll need to borrow for an online program to ensure you won't become one of these statistics. Don't just settle on borrowing student loans to cover the whole cost of your program and living expenses. Instead, start thinking about how to cut costs and cover your balance in different ways, such as the following. -- Grants and scholarships: Even though you are taking an online course, you can still apply and receive grants and scholarships. But your first step should be to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, commonly referred to as the FAFSA, which will allow you to receive a Pell Grant if your expected family contribution is low enough. The EFC criteria and award amounts are adjusted annually, but the 2017-2018 academic year awards range from $606 to $5,920, which could significantly lower the amount you borrow annually. Your next step is to apply for scholarships. You can start by checking online scholarship search engines, such as the Salt Scholarship Search, College Board's BigFuture and Peterson's. But don't forget to take advantage of local organizations and your school's financial aid office. Both may offer scholarships that you can't find with a national scholarship search. [Review these 10 sites to kick off your scholarship search.]For instance, organizations like the Elks Club, Knights of Columbus or the Rotary Club typically offer scholarships annually to local students. Just because you're going to school online doesn't mean you're ineligible. Visit your local library for scholarship listings, and ask around town. You might be surprised how many local organizations offer scholarships. While these scholarships typically aren't large, every little bit counts. Each dollar you receive in a scholarship is a dollar you don't have to borrow and pay interest on. -- Work-study: Another option for online students may be work-study awards. Not all students enrolled in online programs are eligible, but students at some schools -- including, for example, SUNY Empire State College and Liberty University -- are. Work-study awards are not given upfront like scholarships and grants. In most cases, they are an offer to earn up to the awarded amount if you secure an eligible work-study job. While there is a misconception that all work-study jobs must be on campus, students can work for off-campus, nonprofit or public employers as long as the work is in the public's interest. You may be able to work for a for-profit employer if the job is relevant to your course of study. No matter who the outside employer is, it will need to have an established agreement with your college for you to receive work-study funds. Remember, to be eligible for federal financial aid, you must be enrolled and pursuing a degree or certificate. If you're not working toward a credential, Pell Grants and work-study won't be option, but you may still be able to take advantage of private scholarships -- just be sure to read the eligibility criteria carefully. [Explore what to know about financial aid in online programs.]-- Pay as you go: One of the great benefits to enrolling online is the flexible schedule, which can allow you to complete your college coursework around your responsibilities. But prospective students often overlook using their part- or full-time job earnings as an option for paying for college. Almost 80 percent of college students in 2015 worked at least part time while attending classes, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. By budgeting and thinking strategically about your college costs, you can likely reduce your dependence on student loans by paying a portion out of pocket. Many -- but not all -- online programs are less expensive than traditional programs and often have shorter payment periods. Six, eight or 10 weeks are common course durations. Because of the frequency of payments in an online setting, you may be well-placed to pay as you go and possibly avoid borrowing altogether. Attending college online and avoiding student loans may be challenging, but if you are willing to put in the effort, you can limit the amount you need to borrow. More from U.S. News Q&A: Understanding Student Loan Discharge Eligibility Student Loan Refinancing Isn't Right for All Borrowers
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